Eclipse error: Error retrieving feature.xml

Using Software Updates and then Find and install

1. Delete the site.xml file in your Eclipse directory.
2. Run Help->Software Updates->Find and install, the error will not appear.
If the plugin has the official site, from where you can install it in Eclipse using Help->Software Updates->Find and install, I suggest that you should not download it yourself and unzip it into your Eclipse directory.

source

Preparing Eclipse 3.x for ColdFusion Development

CFEclipse - An Eclipse plugin for ColdFusion

The best plugin I found, for Eclipse IDE. Simply it gears Eclipse with all-you-need for CF development: color-coding, content outline, code & bracket highlighting, code folding, tag code completion, snippets, etc... full feature list

Uber fast install:

1. Select the "Help->Software Updates->Find and install" menu option
2. On the screen that is displayed, select 'Search for new features to install' and click the 'Next' button
3. Now click the 'New Remote Site' button
4. Enter a name for the update site, for example "CFEclipse". In the URL box, enter "http://www.cfeclipse.org/update" and click the OK button

Note: This is the moment when you are going to install CFUnit too.

ColdFusion 8 Debugging

Well, not much to say but to advise you to sit and read this ADC step-by-step tutorial.
Read it!

Developing ColdFusion Extensions in Java

To make this short and effective:

1. You cannot reload CFX developed in Java without server restart. Empirically proven and confirmed by other CF developers (as some ppl claim, even by Adobe tech support)
ref: http://dreamweaverforum.info/advanced-techniques/78901-how-reload-java-cfx-without-restarting-coldfusion.html

2. Article to read to get into this subject fast and "good enough"
http://www.intermedia.net/support/coldfusion/cf5docs/Developing_ColdFusion_Applications/CFXTags4.html

3. Example

import com.allaire.cfx.*;

public class test implements CustomTag {

public void processRequest(Request request, Response response) throws Exception {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
String strName = request.getAttribute( "NAME" );
response.write( "Cao, " + strName );

Query qr = request.getQuery();

if ( qr == null )
{
throw new Exception(
"Missing QUERY parameter. " +
"You must pass a QUERY parameter in "+
"order for this tag to work correctly." ) ;
}

int i=1,j=1;
while(i<=qr.getRowCount()){ j=1; response.write(" "); while(j<=qr.getColumns().length){ response.write(qr.getData(i, j)+" | "); j++; } i++; } } }

Voila! Now you know everything :)))

SQL Server Deadlock - NOLOCK and ROWLOCK hints

Deadlock is something that will become most certainly, subject of your worries sooner or later during the lifetime of your application (or better to say database). Since MS SQL Server requires locks for SELECT, even those people who are not trying to modify database are involved in locking system. UPDATE and DELETE, obviously, requires locks. Even if you refer directly to primary key, page locks are most likely to happen in case of massive (batch) requests of same operation, because most of data will be in the same page.
Well, solution may be found in 2 little cute hints: WITH NOLOCK (for selects) and WITH ROWLOCK (for updates and deletes). With those hints you will "ask" sql server no to make any locks during selects and to lock only single row you wish to update. In short, that's it. Be careful when you are using these hints especially if your application is sensitive on data accuracy.

For further reading:
SQL Server Lock Contention Tamed: The Joys Of NOLOCK and ROWLOCK
Michael Balloni
sql-server-perfomrance.com

Do you feal dirty?
Phil Scott's blog

Yahoo! Pipes has arrived

Yahoo says:

Pipes is an interactive feed aggregator and manipulator. Using Pipes, you can create feeds that are more powerful, useful and relevant.

Actually Y! Pipes is tool which gives you ability to create your own web space using variety of different online (web) services, and, at the same time, you don't need to have any programming knowledge or skills, only by using its development interface.
You "just" need to have an idea, to know who you should ask for information and to assemble it into your own unique product.
Like a shoe making process: You don't need to be a lace manufacturer nor having a sewing machine, you "just" need to have an idea how the shoe have to look like and have a pencil to sketch it.
Idea is you, public web services are materials (leather, rubber, etc) and Y! Pipes will be your glue (sewing machine) which will assemble all that.

Read more:

Yahoo! pipes
http://pipes.yahoo.com/

Yahoo! Launches Pipes (TechCrunch - Nik Cubrilovic)
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/07/yahoo-launches-pipes/

Yahoo! Pipes: The Modules For Building Pipes (O'Reilly Radar)
http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/02/yahoo_pipes_the.html

Yahoo Pipes (Anil Dash)
http://www.dashes.com/anil/2007/02/08/yahoo_pipes